By By Jeff Byrd / staff writer
July 30, 2002
Meridian was a dominant force on the tennis courts in the Mississippi State Team Tennis Tournaments held on Saturday at Tennis Center South and the Ridgeland Courts in Jackson.
Northeast Tennis Complex pro Dave Trebisky said the team titles won by the 12-and-unders, 14-and-unders, and the high school team underlines the strength of youth tennis in Meridian.
The 12-under-team has three 11-year-olds, two 10s, a 9-year-old and an 8-year-old.
Yet it will be the 14-and-under team that will get to show its stuff at a Tournament of Champions.
The 14-and-under team is powered by Lamar School's Wade Covington. He is one of the rising 14-and-under boys singles players in the state.
He is joined on the 14s team by Bryan Barham, Jimmy Epps, Dawson Dyess, Kelly Sterling, Sumner Brown, Katie Pearson, Kelcie Cobb and Aimee Swartzfager.
The Meridian 14s won all four of its matches against an eight-team field. They defeated Tupelo in the finals. The teams' played 8-game sets.
The Meridian 10s had to play and win seven matches against a 10-team field. They also beat Tupelo in the finals.
Team members include Shane Trebisky, Benjamin Johnson, Bryan Epps, Elizabeth Case, Ben Pearson, Jenna Johnson and Leigh Hamburg.
The high school team competition saw 10 teams battle over a regular best of three set matches.
The Meridian team was led by standout singles player David Ray. Ray is currently ranked 40th in the South for the boys 18-and-unders. He is an alternate to play in the National Hard Courts and won four matches at the recent Southern Closed Tournament.
The girls doubles team was led by Meridian Community College signee in Melissa Kimbriel. She played with her sister Brittley in doubles play.
The boys doubles team was made up of Kyle Naylor and Wade Covington. Anne Clair Marascalco played girls singles while Lisa Swartzfager played mixed doubles.
Meridian won five matches against a field that included two teams from Jackson along with others from Tupelo, New Albany, Starkville, Pontotoc and Eupora.